In a bold move that underscores the rapid growth of Czech e-commerce, Tomáš Čupr, the entrepreneur behind the successful online grocery platform Rohlik.cz, has announced the issuance of bonds worth 3 billion Czech crowns (approximately €120 million). This financial strategy, executed through Rohlik.cz Finance II, comes with an option to increase the amount to 4.5 billion crowns, showcasing the company’s ambitious expansion plans.
The bonds, set to mature at the end of 2029, offer an attractive annual yield of 6%, reflecting the company’s confidence in its future performance. This third wave of bond issuance follows two previous rounds that were snapped up by eager investors within a mere 48 hours, highlighting the market’s enthusiasm for Rohlik’s growth story.
Čupr plans to leverage this capital influx for refinancing existing obligations, bolstering operational reserves, and crucially, fueling international expansion. The move comes as Rohlik Group cements its position as a leading European online grocery delivery service, having already achieved the coveted “unicorn” status – a valuation exceeding $1 billion.
In a parallel development, Čupr is launching the Rohlik Growth SICAV investment fund in partnership with J&T. This new venture, valued at over €120 million, will focus exclusively on Rohlik Group shares, targeting an impressive 15-20% expected return. The fund structure sees Čupr retaining a majority stake of 50.01%, with J&T holding the remaining 49.99%.
Čupr’s optimism is palpable. “I believe in Rohlik’s value well over ten billion euros, or over 250 billion Czech crowns, because I’m personally in this business,” he stated, expressing confidence that the new bond issue will be in high demand, much like its predecessors. This bullish outlook is backed by Rohlik’s impressive track record and its status as the first Czech company to achieve unicorn status.
As Rohlik continues to disrupt the European grocery market with its innovative online model, this latest financial move signals its readiness to capture an even larger share of the burgeoning e-commerce sector. With the bonds set to be traded on the Prague Stock Exchange’s regulated market, investors and industry watchers alike will be keenly observing Rohlik’s next steps in its ambitious journey.